Astragalus alpinus

Astragalus alpinus is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name alpine milkvetch. It has a circumpolar distribution, occurring throughout the upper latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

Alpine milkvetch

Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Genus: Astragalus
Species:
A. alpinus
Binomial name
Astragalus alpinus

Distribution

It is widespread in Eurasia. In North America it occurs from Alaska to Newfoundland and as far south as Nevada and New Mexico.[1]

Description

This plant is variable in appearance. In general, it is a perennial herb growing from a taproot and rhizome network topped with an underground caudex. The roots have nitrogen-fixing nodules. The aboveground stems are up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long and are mostly decumbent, forming a mat. The leaves are up to 15 centimetres (5 5⁄6 in) long and are made up of several pairs of leaflets each up to 2 centimetres (5⁄6 in) long. The inflorescence is a raceme of up to 30 flowers each about 1 centimetre (1⁄3 in) long.[1] The flowers are purple or blue.[2] The fruit is a legume pod up to 1.7 centimetres (2⁄3 in) long which contains seeds.[1]

Ecology

This plant grows in subalpine and alpine climates, often in moist areas, such as woodlands and meadows around streams and lakes. It also occurs on tundra and other cold, dry, exposed areas. It occurs on gravel bars and scree. It is sometimes a pioneer species, colonizing land in the primary phase of ecological succession, such as roads and bare land turned over during frost heave. It has been observed regrowing early in recently burned areas in Grand Teton National Park. It also grows in vegetated areas.[1] Plants occurring in harsh conditions are smaller than those in more favorable sites.[2][3]

This plant species provides food for caribou, Arctic hares, greater snow geese, small blue butterflies, and grizzly bears.[1][4]

This species may be divided into two varieties, var. alpinus occurring in the Arctic and var. brunetianus occurring in northeastern North America at lower latitudes.[2]

References
  1. Anderson, Michelle D. (2007). "Astragalus alpinus". Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory – via https://www.feis-crs.org/feis/.
  2. J.M. Gillett, L.L. Consaul, S.G. Aiken and M.J. Dallwitz (1999 onwards). Fabaceae of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago: Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, and Information Retrieval. Archived 13 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine Version: 15 November 2000.
  3. https://www.swcoloradowildflowers.com/Blue%20Purple%20Enlarged%20Photo%20Pages/astragalus%20alpinus.htm
  4. Asher, Jim (2001). The millennium atlas of butterflies in Britain and Ireland. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0198505655.
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